The final show for Swedish metal juggernaut Arch Enemy in Australia hit Perth like a ton of bricks as a packed to the brim crowd witnessed the melodic heavy offerings of a band who have been tearing it across the nation this past week including the inaugural Download Festival in Melbourne. After having captured shows in Melbourne and Adelaide, we saw fit to see the band one more time in The Rockpit’s hometown of Perth to see the band off!
The big crowd set for tonight’s proceedings was helped bumped up by local heroes Chaos Divine and Tempest Rising, a combination of prog and groove rock and metal that steered the way for the coming Swedish metallers. A raucious crowd embraced both acts but many were probably familiar with both bands who by now have become regular staples and figure heads in the Perth scene. Chaos Divine surprisingly hitting first slot but gave a steadfast performance consisting of something a little more aggressive than on recent shows, a sign of things to come maybe? Tempest Rising on the other hand don’t seem to know the meaning of no energy as they ripped into a familiar set of balls to the wall heavy grooves that have become signature stuff for the rising stars.
Coming through half an hour later after Tempest Rising ended was the one and only Arch Enemy. The crowd was packed from wall to wall by this point as the anticipation was on an all time high, the energy felt from the room even before the 5 piece stepped out onto the Rosemount Hotel stage was burning red and only added to the excitement of seeing these guys bring their brand of melodic death metal.
When the time came, Arch Enemy hit the stage after Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades and a brooding intro set things in motion. Out of the gates came The World Is Yours off the new album “Will To Power” which showcased Alissa White-Gluz on her second album appearance. The blue haired vocalist had big shoes to fill since joining the band and while the new material did the job early on, it was the older material that tested her place among the legion of hardcore fans who certainly embraced her style emphatically. Bounding wildly across the stage with energy, headbanging at every opportunity and riling up the crowd where possible, she was dead set on winning the crowd over and by the end she easily won, having the screaming fans eating out of her hand.
Guitarist Jeff Loomis, much like his Download Festival appearance, was a machine on guitar. The technical proficiency at which he displayed his fretboard skills was a sheer delight to witness and like Alissa, a much welcomed addition to the band. Tracks like The Race and War Eternal were guitar fodder for his kind as he played the solo parts with ease and on point. His counterpart on guitar, Michael Amott took a bit of a backseat hiding in the corners of the stage but maintaining his trademark style that has forever given Arch Enemy a sound all of it’s own. The anthemic You Will Know My Name one of the many highlights to bring the twin guitar attack into the spotlight while the rhythm section of Sharlee D’Angelo on bass and Daniel Erlandsson on drums gave some real backbone to the whole operation.
One of the best songs on the new album The Eagle Flies Alone is one of the best representations of modern Arch Enemy. It’s catchy groove and hooky melodies is one of the many signatures of the band but displayed here best when looking for something outside of the more aggressive tones of earlier work like Dead Bury The Dead and Ravenous, the latter setting the show alight early on.
After a brief wander off stage the band came back for seconds for the obligatory encore which included guitar solos from Amott and Loomis and finishing off with a few more tracks including Nemesis. As Alissa asked the crowd if they wanted Arch Enemy back to Perth, we have to agree in unison with a strong yes!
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Jessica Vaini at JV Photo Film
Arch Enemy
Chaos Divine & Tempest Rising
